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St. John Lutheran Church Newsletter
16 Great Rd., Sudbury, Ma 01776 978-443-8350
www.stjohnsudburyma.org
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Sharing Our Blessings Through Service | |
Join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9:30 am. If you are unable to attend, please watch the latest video HERE. | |
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From the Pastor
All the Saints, Near and Far
All Saints this year is marked by personal grief at the news of three deaths in my family. The one that strikes me hardest is the death of Lauren’s grandmother, Janet Calcutt. To be honest, I feel kind of strange about this, because I also learned yesterday morning that my father’s two brothers also died recently, and Janet’s death is the one that’s causing me the most grief.
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Bill & Barbara Weiblen
This Friday we said goodbye to two dear friends of St. John, Bill & Barbara Weiblen. Though Barb died in the summer of 2020, we weren’t able to properly commemorate her life and our relationship to her on account of COVID. It brought us great joy to commemorate the lives and ministries of both Bill & Barb this week, especially knowing that the choir provided some special music in honor of their long membership in our choir and their contributions to St. John over the years.
We pray, God our strong tower, you provide shelter from the storms of life, and a place to dwell together in you. As we remember Bill & Barb while holding Laura, Charlie, and their families in our hearts, we give thanks for the joy we find in each other as your hands and feet. Bless and keep us all in these moments of joy and sadness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Pumpkins! A Month in Review
When the truck pulled up to St John in the sprinkling rain on Saturday, October 7th, there was a crowd of people in the parking lot cheering a welcome! Our truck driver, Manuel, had left the pumpkin farm in Farmington, NM on Tuesday with a truck full of pumpkins. After a stop at a church in Rhode Island, we were ready to clean that truck out. In less than an hour, we unloaded over 2000 pumpkins and gourds! Once we moved the hay that was used to cushion the pumpkins for their trip, from the truck to the middle of our Pumpkin Patch, we took pictures with Manuel and waved goodbye.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities at St. John | |
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Fall Cleanup - November 11th
Facilities is holding our annual FALL FLING on November 11th from 9 AM to Noon. Bring your rakes, blowers, and tarps as we tidy up the church grounds before winter sets in.
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Floral Design Event
St. John Seniors on the Go is sponsoring a floral design event under the guidance of Ellen Baucom. We will meet at the church on Friday, November 17, at 10:00 and Ellen will help each participant create a floral arrangement for Thanksgiving, or for any other special occasion you have in mind. The flowers will be purchased in advance by Ellen with the cost to be less than $25 per person. Participants will be asked to bring some greens, a container, appropriate tools (plyers, etc.). Other instructions will be provided to those who sign up.
Registration must be done no later than Sunday, November 12 (sooner would be best). Contact Royce Fuller at 978-897-8397 or royceaf11@gmail.com to register.
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Christmas Gospel
Sunday, December 17th
during worship
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THE COLD WEATHER IS COMING
AND SO IS OUR MITTEN TREE!
Later this month St John will have our Mitten Tree out for decorating with all kinds of cold weather items. Please bring mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and warm socks in women’s, men’s, and kids’ sizes. Note: If you are shopping, the Outdoor Church folks who receive our adult-sized stuff prefer gloves—or the peekaboo fingerless mittens.
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COAT DRIVE FOR MCLEAN HOSPITAL
COMING IN DECEMBER
As you clean out your coat closets and hit the Black Friday sales, please keep in mind that we will once again hold our Coat Drive—and More! for patients of McLean Hospital. More information will be coming in December.
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SPREAD THE BREAD IS COMING!
Please plan to make some breads for our upcoming Spread the Bread project on November 19th!
As part of our BRIDGE (Building Relationships In-Between Different Generations & Experiences) event (aka Intergenerational Sunday School), we will wrap and make cards for all the breads that are brought in. Breads will be shared with a local food pantry for distribution to families.
Breads can be made from a mix or from scratch—and can be any flavor. Just please note if your bread has nuts in it.
All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this event!
Thank you for your help!
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Acton Food Pantry
As we look forward to Sunday coffee hour treats, church pot-luck dinners, and our own Thanksgiving feasts, it is also the time to remember those who look for food each week to feed their families. The Acton Pantry cart is woefully bare and soon St. John will be asking for help for local families to have a Thanksgiving meal and a Christmas meal. Our stewardship extends to those around us who struggle.
The Acton Pantry is only one of a group of local pantries this church supports. Your Outreach Team extends our resources, financial for all of them, and food from our cart in the lounge to Acton. The Acton Pantry benefitted from the service of our St. John sister, Dale Cali, who volunteered beginning in 1984 so we have chosen to extend her faithful service there. The Acton location serves clients of all demographics from 56 surrounding towns; all pantries are similar and turn no-one away.
During Covid, needs spiked by 30% and have not abated. We are warmly greeted there each month. LET’S FILL THE CART.
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Youth and Family Ministry | |
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HELP US SEND LOVE TO OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Each year we send care packages to our college students to give them a boost as they prepare for final exams. Care packages typically include an advent devotional and advent calendar, flat snacks, a packet of hot chocolate, pocket tissues, and a gift card. Please help us ensure there is a gift card for all of our college students by providing $10-$15 gift cards to places like Starbucks and Dunks. Or, you could write a check to St John with College Care Packages in the memo section, and we will gift card shop for you.
Please give gift cards directly to Michelle Rose or slip them under the door of the Youth Office by Sunday, November 12th.
If you have college students in your house, please email current addresses to Michelle Rose at mrose@stjohnsudbury.org.
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Weekly/Monthly Opportunities at St. John | |
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Seniors Monthly
Pot Luck Lunches
Watch the weekly news for upcoming dates!
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Seniors on the Go book club
Meet Tuesdays at 11 am via Zoom. Watch the weekly news for all details.
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ZOOM Meeting to Discuss Race, Racism, and Antiracism.
Our group meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 4:00 PM for informal, unstructured discussion about books, ideas, and experiences touching on race, racism, and antiracism. Please join us!
Any questions, contact Jan Nielsen at jrnielsen@charter.net
or 978-549-3044.
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Masking Update for Communion Assistants
The Council is considering a change to make the use of masks for communion assistants optional. Council and the Worship and Music Ministry have gathered information from the CDC, other area churches, as well as doctors in our congregation, and the data indicates that making the use of masks by our Communion Assistants optional would be appropriate. A decision is expected in the coming weeks. No changes to the special seating for masked individuals or our air handling in the Sanctuary are contemplated.
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Together: Called, Sent, Serving
The stewardship mailers have been mailed out; included is the 2024 Intent Card. We hope you thoughtfully fill it out and bring it to church on November 12th, 'Appeal Sunday'. You can pass in your intent card in the white church box in front of the sanctuary, place it in the offering plate during service or hand it into the office during office hours. November 12th marks the last day of our stewardship campaign and we would love to celebrate our gifts of thanksgiving with you at coffee hour over cake.
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Giving to St. John
Giving to St. John can be done online, mail, or in person.
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You can go to the St. John website: https://www.stjohnsudburyma.org and click on Give in the upper right hand corner of the screen. This will take you to our giving platform, Tithely, where you can make an account and set up recurring donations or make a one time gift.
- You can mail in your donation to 16 Great Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776.
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You can pass in your donation during the passing of the offering plate during service or bring it into the office during office hours (978-443-8350).
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Stewardship Temple Talks
Below you will find the Stewardship Temple Talks from the most recent worship services.
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All Saints' Chapel
All Saints' Chapel is available as a place of prayer, meditation, and worship.
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St. John Bell Choir preparing for Christmas! | |
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Vespers Service
Many thanks to Ben Perry and Bart Dahlstrom for the moving Vespers service on November 5. The St John choir was joined by the choir from Christ Lutheran Church, Natick. A liturgical Vespers setting was complimented by compositions arranged by John Coates, Jr.and African American composers R. Nathaniel Dett and Arnold Sevier.
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WORSHIP ASSISTANTS NEEDED!
If you would like to sign up to serve as a Worship Assistant, sign-up sheets are located outside Heritage Hall.
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"Church is Hard"
An Article shared by a current member of St. John
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From the Office
For all church calendar events, Zoom requests, weekly announcements, or newsletter articles, please forward them to Tracy at office@stjohnsudbury.org. The deadline for all weekly announcements is Tuesdays by noon.
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Church Event Set-ups
If you have a church event listed on the calendar that requires a set-up or a task for our Sexton, George, you may now email that request to sexton@stjohnsudbury.org. George will also continue to check is mailbox for those who prefer to leave a note. Please be reminded that George works Mon-Wed-Fri 10-2 p.m.,and will review these requests during his work hours. Please be sure your request gives George the appropriate time to fulfill your request. Thank you!
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Church Calendar
If you have an event or church meeting for the church calendar, please submit your request to office@stjohnsudbury.org, or call the office with your request so we can keep the church calendar up-todate!
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